Washington/05.01.22/Turan: Washington on Wednesday expressed its concern about the adoption of a new media bill that critics say was designed to limit independent journalism in Azerbaijan, TURAN's U.S. correspondent reports.
“We are concerned that the Azerbaijani Parliament appeared to rush the process of sending the proposed media law to the Presidential Administration for ratification,” a State Department spokesperson said in response to TURAN’s request for comment.
"We hope that the Presidential Administration will carefully consider input from independent journalists, media experts, and international groups, including the OSCE, as it reviews the draft law", the spokesperson added. "We will continue to follow the issue closely."
The proposed law, which sets up a database for media organizations and requires journalists to be registered with the state, was adopted by the Azerbaijani Parliament on December 30, and is yet to be signed by the President. Local media and rights groups have said that the law could impose potentially wide-ranging restrictions on freedom of expression in Azerbaijan.--0--
Alex Raufoglu
Washington D.C.
Politics
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